Comfort (T AH 20) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS COMFORT AH-6 WORLD WAR II The primary mission of the USNS COMFORT (T-AH 20) is to provide acute medical and surgical care in sup- port of amphibious task forces, Marine Corps, Army and Air Force elements, and forward deployed Navy ele- ments of the fleet and fleet activities located in areas where hostilities may be imminent. The ship has a sec- ondary mission, to provide a full hospital service asset available for use by other U.S. government agencies in support of disaster and humanitarian operations world- wide.

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USS COMFORT AH-3 WORLD WAR I • ' ■S ' J USNS COMFORT (T-AH 20) is the second Mercy Class hospital ship to the fleet. As a converted San Clemente class tanker she was delivered to the Navy December 1, 1987 and assigned to the Military Sealift Command for operation. COMFORT is the third hospital ship to bear that name. The previous COMFORTS (AH-3 and AH-6) served in World Wars I and II; in World War II with a Navy crew and Army medical personnel. For its service, AH-6 ' s crew was awarded two battle stars. Today ' s COMFORT (T-AH 20) is crewed by the Military Sealift Command ' s civilian sailors and its medical treatment fa- cility is staffed with medical and support active duty personnel.

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CAPTAIN ROGER J. PENTZIEN, M.C., U.S. NAVY COMMANDING OFFICER, MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITY USNS COMFORT (T-AH 20) Captain Roger J. Pentzien was commissioned a Lieutenant in the Medical Corps, United States Naval Reserve in 1974 upon his graduation from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine. He later completed three years residing in gener- al psychiatry at NRMC, Oakland. Captain Pent- zien served as Chief, Psychiatry Service, NRMC Bremerton. Subsequently, he received further postgraduate training in neurology at Stanford University School of Medicine. In 1985, he was appointed Head, Alcohol Rehabilitation Depart- ment and Staff Psychiatrist, Naval Hospital New- port. Upon Captain Pentzien ' s arrival in 1987 to National Naval Medical Center Bethesda, he was immediately appointed Head, Outpatient Division, Department of Psychiatry. In 1988, he became Assistant Chairman and Director of Residency Training. In January 1989, Captain Pentzien became Director of Medical Services as well as maintaining his appointment as Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of Health Services, F. Edward Herbert School of Medicine. He continued as Psychiatric Consultant to the U.S. Naval Academy and to the Attending Physician ' s Office, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. On February 5, 1990, Captain Pentzien was appointed as Commanding Officer of the Medical Treatment Facility, USNS COMFORT (T-AH 20), a 1,000 bed hospital ship with a full operating status crew of 1,162. Captain Pentzien is a Diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is a member of the American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association and American Academy of Neurology, and Association of Military Surgeons of the United States. His previous awards include the Humanitarian Service Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Outstanding Service Awards as Chief Resident, nomination as a Falk Fellow to the American Psychi- atric Association and two U.S. Navy Letters of Commendation, In March 1989, he received a Special Service Award from the Washington Psychiatric Society and the American Psychiatric Association. Captain Pentzien is currently collaborating on research examining the risk factors for hepatitis associated with disulfiram therapy — a clinical investigation program study between the National Naval Medical Center and the Johns Hopkins University. His wife Evelyn is a graduate of the Danville School of Nursing. The couple has one daughter and four sons.